352 
Field  Columbian  Museum — Reports,  Vol.  i. 
1899  with  1898,  was  about  $4,000.00  in  favor  of  the  previous  year. 
The  sum  expended  in  excess  of  the  budget — $36,000.00  approximately 
— was  exclusively  for  expeditions,  new  material,  new  cases  and  publi- 
cations ;  therefore,  with  the  exception  of  the  cost  of  the  publications, 
$1,700.00,  the  amount  expended  above  the  provisions  of  the  budget 
is  represented  by  Museum  material  and  equipment  in  value  consider- 
ably in  excess  of  that  amount.  The  books  of  the  Museum  have  been 
compared  with  the  Treasurer's  statement  and  a  certificate  of  agree- 
ment issued. 
The  Memberships. — There  has  been  a  further  decrease  in  the 
number  of  annual  memberships,  mostly  by  formal  resignations,  and 
for  reasons  in  each  case  that  seemed  to  justify  the  retirement.  This 
may  be  expected  in  greater  or  less  degree  each  year,  so  long  as  no 
effort  is  put  forth  even  to  hold  the  membership  already  obtained. 
Lecture  Courses. — The  spring  and  autumn  lecture  courses, 
comprising  Course  Number  Ten,  in  October  and  November,  1898, 
nine  lectures,  and  Course  Number  Eleven,  in  March  and  April, 
1899,  nine  lectures,  had  the  same  gratifying  attendance  that  has  now 
become  the  custom.  There  have  been  very  few  lectures  when  the 
demands  for  admission  have  not  exceeded  the  capacity  of  the  hall, 
and  in  no  case  has  the  attendance  been  unsatisfactory.  The  offers 
of  participation  in  the  lecture  courses  by  students  in  the  fields 
represented  by  the  scope  of  the  Museum  have  been  sufficient  to 
present  very  interesting  lists  of  lectures  without  taxing  the  members 
of  the  Museum  staff,  except  in  one  or  two  instances.  Following 
is  the  Tenth  Lecture  Course,  with  the  subject  and  lecturers  : 
Oct.  1. — "  The  Pyramids  of  Egypt"  (Illustrated). 
Prof.  James  H.  Breasted,  University  of  Chicago. 
Oct.  8.  —  "Cuba:  Its  Products  and  Possibilities"  (Illustrated). 
Dr.  R.  S.  Martin,  Chicago. 
Oct.  15. — "Snake  Dancers  of  the  United  States"  (Illustrated). 
Mr.  G.  Wharton  James,  Pasadena,  Cal. 
Oct.  22. —  "Plants  and  Their  Environment"  (Illustrated). 
Prof.  H.  D.  Densmore,  Beloit  College,  Wis. 
Oct.  29.  — "The  Moon"  (Illustrated). 
Prof.  E.  E.  Barnard,  Yerkes  Observatory. 
Nov.  5. — "Japan  and  the  Japanese"  (Illustrated). 
Mr.  Walter  C.  Nelson,  Chicago. 
